In coffee we can often question the impact of our efforts. Over time though, small consistent steps in the right direction can not only carry you over many miles, it can transform you and those for whom you are working. What may seem like plodding work now, is the foundation for what will be built in the future.
Today we are talking with someone whose work has taken several turns over the years. All of which were in the direction of uplifting farmers with whatever means were at hand. Today the massive impact of those consistent actions has led to impact beyond measure.
We are talking with Ben Carlson of Long Miles Coffee.
Ben Carlson is a coffee industry leader and social entrepreneur with 23 years of global experience, including 16 years on the ground in East Africa. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Ben serves as the CEO, Chief Culture Creator, and Sales Director of Long Miles Coffee—an impact-driven organization dedicated to producing world-class specialty coffee while uplifting smallholder farming communities out of generational poverty.
Ben's journey in East Africa began in 2010 following a quality survey of Burundi's coffee sector. Driven by a vision to challenge exploitative supply chains, he transitioned from coffee trading to hands-on production, founding Long Miles Coffee in 2013 alongside his wife, Kristy. What started with a single washing station serving 180 families in Bukeye, Burundi, has scaled into a multi-country operation employing over 130 team members and supporting more than 9,500 farming families across Burundi and Uganda.
Under Ben's leadership, Long Miles has consistently set benchmarks for quality and sustainability, earning numerous Cup of Excellence awards and achieving Burundi's highest coffee sales per pound. His current work focuses on pioneering climate-resilient agriculture, including building Africa's first carbon-neutral, minimal-water coffee processing facility and developing a regenerative model farm on Mount Elgon in Western Kenya.
Recognized as Imbibe Magazine's "Coffee Person of the Year," Ben is a frequent international speaker, event host, and competition judge on impact-driven business models and sustainable agriculture. He also serves as the regional distributor for Ecotact protective packaging in Uganda and Kenya. Ben lives in Kenya with his family, continuing his mission to reshape the future of African specialty coffee.
We discuss:
- The start of Long Miles Coffee and its initial vision
- Impact of coffee on local communities in Burundi
- Challenges and innovations in coffee farming and processing
- Scaling the impact: From 100 families to thousands
- The social programs: Coffee Kids Camp and community development
- Market response and the future of Long Miles Coffee
- Advice for those who want to make a difference
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